Pneumatically operated loading chute



1965 R. H. NOBLE PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED LOADING CHUTE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 4, 1964 INVENTOR. ROBERT H. NOBLE AT TORNEYS Aug. 23, 1966NOBLE 3,268,048

PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED LOADING CHUTE Filed Nov. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 239 g fig: INVENTOR.

L, ROBERT NOBLE 'L I BY 74; w A

i", 4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,268,048 PNEUMATRALLY OPERATEDLOADING CHUTE Robert H. Noble, Randolph Township, Morris County,

N.J., assignor to the United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Army Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 409,033 Claims. ((119332) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government for governmental purposes Without the payment to meof any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a loading chute and particularly to a chutefor rapidly and safely loading explosive pellets into a carrier ordispenser.

It has heretofore been the custom in loading explosive pellets intocarriers or dispensers to have an operator place a number of the pelletsinto a cloth bag, or the like, which was capable of being opened, bypulling on a draw string or the like. The operator would lower the bagof pellets into the carrier or dispenser and then retire to a remotesafety area. He would then pull the draw string which would open the bagto drop the pellets into the carrier or dispenser. This procedure wasrepeated until the required number of pellets was loaded into thecarrier or dispenser. This method of loading the pellets was extremelytedious and time consuming. More significantly it was dangerous to lifeand limb. The operating personnel were required to subject themselves toa proximate spaced relationship with the explosives whereby anyspontaneous detonation of the explosives could possibly result indisastrous physical harm.

It .is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a chutefor loading explosive pellets into carriers or dispensers, operating incombination with a remotely loaded conveyor, which provides for rapidloading of the pellets and effectively eliminates the safety hazard tothe operating personnel in the loading area.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chute for loadingexplosive pellets into carriers or dispensers, which is adapted tocontrol the rollingor sliding speed of the pellets to insure against anymomentum buildup of a pellet great enough to result in an explosiveimpact with the carrier or dispenser.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a chute for loadingexplosive pellets into carriers or dispensers, which can be adjusted incross sectional area to accommodate pellets of different cross-sectionaldimensions.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a chute forloading explosive pellets into carriers or dispensers, which is ofsimplified and of low cost construction and which is adapted to bemounted on a carrier or dispenser eliminating external means forsupporting the chute.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a chute forloading explosive pellets into carriers or dispensers which includesmeans for preventing spillage of pellets from the chute insuring thatthe pellets must ultimately be loaded into the carrier or dispenserthereby further enhancing safety in the loading operation.

In accordance with the invention the chute is provided with an elongatemember substantially L shaped in cross section which comprises the baseand one wall of the chute. Another elongate section substantially Ushaped in cross section is firmly secured to the base portion of the Lmembers. Disposed in the U member and at substantially right angles toand in movable relation to the walls thereof are rods, which are springurged to- Wards the inner Wall of the U member. The rods extend throughthe inner wall of the U member where on their ends are rigidly secured alocking bar which is in sub- 3,25%,M8 Patented August 23, 1966stantially parallel spaced relation to the walls of the U member andcoextensive therewith. The locking bar consists of a metal bar coveredwith a resilient friction material on its side portion away from theurging rods.

The rod, the wall of the L member, and the base of the L membertherebetween form a trough area where the pellets may be rolled or slid.The U member may be moved a limited distance laterally over the surfaceof the base of the L member by loosening the screws which secure it tothe L member. This permits adjustment of the rolling area of the chuteto accommodate pellets of various cross-sectional dimensions.

A flexible rubber tubing is secured in abutting relationship to theinside of the inner wall of the U member and forms a substantially Ushaped continuous length. The tubing is connected to a fluid supplythrough regulating valves. Means are provided between the tubes and theurging rods whereby upon supplying the fluid to the tubing the expansionthereof causes the springs to compress the locking bar to move laterallytowards the inner wall of the U member. While this condition exists theexplosive pellets are free to roll or slide down the chute. If the fluidsupply is cut off the locking bar will resume its original positionwhich is such that pellets in the chute will be held stationary. Thechute is securely attached to the carrier or dispenser to be loaded.

The means for attaching the chute to the carrier or dispenser is also atunnelling means which functions to prevent spillage of the pellets fromthe chute during loading. A conveyor system delivers the pellets to thechute. During the entire loading operation no personnel are present inthe area where the carrier or dispenser is being loaded, withobservation of the operation being remotely viewed via a closed circuittelevision system.

The invention will however be further understood from the followingdescription, when considered in connection With the accompanyingdrawings, and its scope is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a chute for loading pellets into a carrieror dispenser, embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the chute of FIG. 1 showing furtherdetails of construction;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical section on the line 44 of FIG. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a viewv in perspective showing a chute for loading explosivepellets into a carrier or dispenser, a section of a conveyor beltdelivering pellet to the chute, a funnelling apparatus fixed to acarrier or dispenser, representing an embodiment of the invention in anoperational mode;

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 showing a detail of the tunnellingapparatus of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic of an air system used with the embodiment of theinvention described herein.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer tolike parts throughout the various figures, and referring particularly toFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a chute for use in loading explosivepellets into a carrier or dispenser, generally designated by the numeral10. The basic structure of the chute comprises a conventional elongatestructural member 11 and a conventional elongate structural member 12coextensive therewith. As shown in FIG. 3 member 11 is somewhat L shapedwhile member 12 is somewhat U shaped, and will be hereafter referred toas Lmember 11 and U member 12. The U member 12 has the bottom surface ofits base portion 13 arranged in substantially abutting relationship withthe top surface of its base portion 14 of the L member 11 and spaced atthe open end thereof, whereby the outer wall portion and inner wallportion 16 of the U member are substantially parallel to the wallportion 17 of the L member 11. The U member 12 is movably fixed to the Lmember 11 by suitable means. In this embodiment a plurality of largeheaded screws 18 substantially parallel to each other in the same planepass through registering openings in the base portion 14 and 13 of themembers 12 and 11. The openings in the L member 11 are threaded wherebyclockwise rotation (looking downward toward the chute) of the screws 18will result in the downward movement of the screws and ultimately thesecuring together of the U member 12 and L member 11. The openings 19 inthe U member 12 are relatively larger in diameter than the openings 20in the L member 11. This relationship allows for a transversely movableadjustment of the relative positions of the L member 11 and U member 12.Upon loosening all of the screws 18 the U member 12 may be movedtransversely slidably over the surface of the L member 11 a maximumdistance measured by the difference in diameters of the openings 19 and20. The significance of this adjustment will be indicated further on inthis description.

A plurality of laterally movable shafts 21 extend transversely acrossthe U member 12 substantially at right angles to the walls 15 and 16thereof and through registering openings therein. The shafts 21' are inspaced relationship and substantially parallel in the same horizontalplane with each other. The shafts 21 are joined outside the inner wall16 with a Hat common carrier element or urging rod 22 which issubstantially parallel to the walls 15 and 16 and approximatelycoextensive therewith. As shown in this embodiment the urging rod 22 maybe smaller in width than the walls of this chute. The urging rod 22 iscomprised of a rigid portion 23 fixed to the rod 21 by welding or thelike, and a flexible rubberlike material 24 coextensive with and firmlyfixed to the side of the rigid portion 23 facing the wall 17 of the Lmember. The urging rod 22, the wall 17 of the L member 11 and the baseportion 14 therebetween define a trough wherein the pellets to betransported may be moved.

The width of this trough may be adjusted by sliding the U member 12 ofthe L member 11 the distance desired by the method hereinbeforedescribed. This allows the chute 10 to be used with varying sizedpellets.

A continuous length of flexible tubing 25 made of rubber or the like issecured by a plurality of spaced clip members 26 to the inside of theinner wall 16 of the U member 12 and in substantially abuttingrelationship thereto. This length of tubing 25 is essentially in aU-shaped configuration in its relationship to the chute 10. The Uportion 27 of the tubing 25 is fixed to the inside of the inner wall 16of the U member 12 by means of a plate 28 abutting the tubing andsecured to the wall 16 with a screw 29 or the like.

A plurality of clip members 26 in spaced relationship with each othersecures the remainder of the length of tubing 25 to the inside of theinner wall 16 of the U member 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 the clipmembers 26 comprise a central flat body portion 30 and two curved clipelements 31 integral therewith and extending coextensively therefrom.The curved elements 31 are shaped to fit the contour of the tubing 25and this shape of the members 26 maintains the tubing 25 insubstantially parallel U-shaped relationship when the clip members 26are secured by a screw 32 or the like to the inside of the inner wall16.

Coaxial with the'shafts 21 are bushings 33 and 34. The bushings 33 aresituated in the openings in the outer wall 15 of the U member 12. Theshafts 21 are in slidable relationship with the bushings 33. Thebushings 34 are fixed to the shafts 21 by means of pins 35 or the likepassing transversely radially through the bushings 34 and shaft 21. Flatplates 36 are secured by some suitable means such as welding or the liketo the bushings 34. The plates 36 are in substantially abuttingrelationship with the tubing 25. The plates 36 have two ends turned at37 to a substantially parallel relationship with each other and atsubstantially right angles to the inner wall 16 of the U member 12.Disposed between the inner surface of the outer wall 15 of the U member12 and the plates 36 are helical compression springs 38 coaxial with theshafts 21. The springs 38 urge a force against the plates 36 which istransmitted to the shaft through the bushings 34 to the urging bar 22.

One end of the tubing 25 is connected to a pressurized fluid supply suchas air or inert gas, for example. In this embodiment air at a pressureof 5 to 10 p.s.i.g. is used flowing through the tubing 25 as shown inFIG. 2. FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a fluid system which may beused with this invention. Air is admitted to the tubing 25 by openingthe manual valve 39 and the solenoid valve 40. Solenoid valve 41 isclosed and the tubing 25 is pressurized whereby the tubing 25 expandsand urges a uniform transversely directed force on the plates 36 therebycausing the shafts 21 and the urging rod 22 to move transversely inunison in the direction of the force. The springs 38 are compressed and,so long as the air pressure is maintained in the tubing 25, urge arestoring force on the plates 36 which is imputed on the shafts 21 andurging rod 22. This feature renders the chute fail safe, that is, whenthe fluid supply to the tubing 25 is inadvertently shut-off, the urgingrod 22 will be restored to its original position thereby precluding anypellets from being transported down the chute.

A funnelling apparatus 42 for preventing any spillage of pellets overthe side of the chute 10, as shown in FIG. 5, is secured to a carried ordispenser 43 which is to be filled with explosive pellets. Thefunnelling apparatus 42 comprises a base member 44 which is shaped toconform to the contour of the carrier or dispenser 43 to be filled. Afunnel member 45 which is trough-like in shape comprising four fiatsides, the end members tapering, is firmly fixed to a rectangulartransition piece 46 which in turn is firmly fixed to the base member 44by welding or the like. The funnelling apparatus 42 is secured to thecarrier or dispenser 43 by screws or the like 47 passing throughregistering openings in the base member 44 and the carrier or dispenser43. The lower or narrow portion of the funnel member 45 registers withan opening in the carrier or dispenser 43. One end of the funnel member45 has a rectangular section identified as 48, cut-out from the top ofthe wide portion to a depth approximately the height of the chute It).The chute 10 may be placed in the cut-out section 48, tilted a desiredangle and placed in communication with the opening in the carrier ordispenser 43. A screw clamp 49 is provided in the transition piece 46for securely holding the chute 10 to the funnelling apparatus 42. Asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the screw clamp 49 comprises a shaft member 50passing through and in screw-threaded engagement with a screw-threadedopening in a pad 52 fixed by welding or thelike to the outside wall ofthe transition piece 46 and preferably at the end thereof nearest thecutout section 48 of the funnel member 45. A circular metal disc 53 isfirmly fixed at substantially right angles to the end of the shaftmember 50 as shown in FIG. 6.

The shaft member 50 is rotatable about its axis and can belongitudinally moved in or out of the funnelling apparatus 42 byscrewing the shaft member 54} clockwise or counterclockwise as desired.Holding means such as a rod 54 or the like is firmly fixed to theoutside end of the shaft member 50 for facilitating screwing of theshaft member 50. The chute 10 will be securely held to the funnellingapparatus 42 by screwing in the shaft member 50 until the disc makessubstantially right angle abutting contact with a portion of the wall 17of the L member 11. The force applied to the wall 17 is transmitted tothe chute 10 causing it to be moved until a portion 17 of the wall 15 ofthe U member 12 opposite the disc 53 abuts against a portion of theinner surface of the wall of the transition piece 46. The shaft member50 may be screwed in until the desired fixed relationship exists'between the chute and funnelling apparatus 42.

In operation, the funnelling apparatus 42 is secured to the carrier ordispenser 43 to be filled with explosive pellets. As hereinbeforedescribed the chute 10 is ad justed for accommodating the diameterpellet to be loaded and fixed to the funnelling apparatus 42 at a slopeangle dependent upon the downward speed of the pellets desired. Thetubing 25 is then connected to the air supply system as shownschematically in FIG. 7. Valves 39 and 40 are opened and valve 41 closedthereby pressurizing the tubing 25 and positioning the urging bar 22 insubstantially abutting contact with the ouside of the inner wall 16 ofthe U member 12. A commonly used horizontal and vertical conveyor 54 isloaded with explosive pellets 55 at a point remote from the carrier ordispenser 43. The conveyor 54 is mechanically passed over a protectivewall and positioned in proximate spaced relationship with the chute 10.This operation is performed from a remotely and safely located controlarea and is continuously observed on a closed circuit television systemreceiver. The conveyor 54 is turned on and the pellets 55 are transported to the chute 10 where they roll or slide safely into the carrieror dispenser 43. If it appears that a pellet is moving at an unsafespeed down the chute 10 the air supply may be shut off and the urgingrod 22 will move to stop the pellet. The air supply can be restored andthe pellet will resume travelling down the chute at a safe speed intothe carrier. The operation continues until the carrier or dispenser 4-3is loaded with the amount of explosive pellets required. The entireloading operation is conducted without any personnel being in the areaof the carrier or dispenser to be loaded.

I claim:

1. A chute for loading explosive pellets into a carrier or dispenser,comprising means defining an open ended trough having at least two sidewalls in fixed space relationship with each other,

a flat rod mounted on one of said side walls coextensive therewith andmovable with respect to the other of said side walls to vary the spacetherebetween,

actuating means connected with said rod comprising,

a laterally movable shaft mounted on one of said side walls and fixedlyconnected to said rod,

a length of flexible tubing in substantial abutting relationship withsaid movable shaft,

said flexible tubing being connected to a source of pressurized fluidwhereby said tubing expands when the fluid is admitted thereto causingsaid rod to move in a direction to increase the distance between saidrod and said other of said side walls, and

means mounted on said movable shaft urging a force on said shaft in adirection opposite to that exerted by the pressurized tubing wherebyrelease of the pressure in said tubing effects restriction of thelateral distance between said rod and said other of said side walls.

2. A chute for loading explosive pellets into a carrier or dispenser,comprising an elongate structural member substantially L-shaped defininga side wall and a base portion,

an elongate structural member substantial U-shaped defining an inner andan outer wall and a 'base portion,

said U-shaped member and said L-shaped member having their base firmlyfixed to one another by suitable means and substantially coextensivewith each other,

at least one laterally movable shaft member extending transverselyacross said U-shaped member and substantially at right angles to thewalls thereof,

said shaft member having one end passing through the inside wall of saidU-shaped member,

a flat rod connected to the end of said shaft member passing through theinside wall of said U-shaped member,

said flat rod substantially parallel to and coextensive with said wallsof said U-shaped member,

a length of flexible tubing mounted on the inside of said inner wall ofsaid U-shaped member,

said length of flexible tubing defining a substantially U-shapedconfiguration adjacent said walls with one leg above and one leg belowsaid shaft member,

a fiat plate member firmly fixed to said shaft member and insubstantially abutting relationship with said flexible tubing, and

a compression spring member interposed between said flat plate memberand outside wall of said U-shapcd member.

3. A chute for loading explosive pellets into a carrier or dispenser asdefined in claim 2, wherein said U-shaped member and said L-shapedmember are laterally movable with respect to one another to vary thespace therebetween.

4. A chute for loading explosive pellets int-o a carrier 'or dispenseras defined in claim 2 wherein a plurality of laterally movable shaftmembers in spaced relationship and substantially parallel in the sameplane with each other extend transversely across said U-shaped memberand substantially at right angles to the walls thereof.

5. A chute for loading explosive pellets into a carrier or dispenser asdefined in claim 2 wherein said flat rod has a flexible rubber-likematerial coextensive with and firmly fixed to the side thereof facingsaid side Wall of said L- shaped member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,108,671 10/1963F'uka et a1. 193-40 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

1. A CHUTE FOR LOADING EXPLOSIVE PELLETS INTO A CARRIER OR DISPENSER,COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING AN OPEN ENDED TROUGH HAVING AT LEAST TWO SIDEWALLS IN FIXED SPACE RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER, A FLAT ROD MOUNTED ONONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH AND MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TOTHE OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALLS TO VARY THE SPACE THEREBETWEEN, ACTUATINGMEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID ROD COMPRISING, A LATERALLY MOVABLE SHAFTMOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID ROD, ALENGTH OF FLEXIBLE TUBING IN SUBSTANTIAL ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAIDMOVABLE SHAFT, SAID FLEXIBLE TUBING BEING CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OFPRESSURIZED FLUID WHEREBY SAID TUBING EXPANDS WHEN THE FLUID IS ADMITTEDTHERETO CAUSING SAID ROD TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION TO INCREASE THE DISTANCEBETWEEN SAID ROD AND SAID OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALLS, AND MEANS MOUNTED ONSAID MOVABLE SHAFT URGING A FORCE ON SAID SHAFT IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITETO THAT EXERTED BY THE PRESSURIZED TUBING WHEREBY RELEASE OF THEPRESSURE IN SAID TUBING EFFECTS RESTRICTION OF THE LATERAL DISTANCEBETWEEN SAID ROD AND SAID OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALLS.